The
declaration is in connection with the June 30 storm that littered South
Jersey with debris and left tens of thousands without electricity.

The
declaration, issued through the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA), currently allows for municipal and county governments to apply
for funds to repair or replace storm-damage public property, and
compensate the cost of additional emergency crews.

It also provides for private nonprofit groups engaged in community service.

So far, there has been no declaration to assist individuals and private business owners who suffered damages or were displaced.

“We
did apply for both — public and private property — and we’re still
waiting on the individual assistance,” said Troy Ferus, Cumberland
County spokesman. “From what we’ve seen, this is the normal process —
the public one is announced first, and then the individual assistance.”

Officials in Cumberland County have yet say just how much damage to public property will cost.

An
announcement regarding compensation for private property owners and
individuals displaced by the storm may be made at a later date, pending
the results of further damage studies, FEMA officials said.

However,
Jeff Pompper, emergency services coordinator for Salem County, stated
it could be weeks before the White House and FEMA make an announcement
concerning assistance to individuals.

“We’re going to continue
working with our state partners to help individuals and private business
owners get the assistance they need,” said Pompper. “FEMA is still
reviewing the situation — this isn’t the last word on this, hopefully.”

Pompper
declined to give any estimate for the cost of the damage to public
property in Salem County, explaining that, so far, the amount has
fluctuated since the days following the storm.

He added that the county should be able to announce a damage estimate in the coming weeks.

“I’m not comfortable releasing any numbers at this point — we’re still getting reports, and they’re not hard and fast numbers.

“We’re just happy to hear that we’ll be getting some funding back.”

FEMA funds would compensate local and county governments for 75 percent of the costs related to storm repair and cleanup.

The balance would be paid for by a combination of state, county and municipal resources.

Gov.
Chris Christie announced on July 5 that the New Jersey Office of
Emergency Management (OEM), in coordination with FEMA and county
emergency management partners, would assess damages from the severe
storms in Cumberland, Salem and Atlantic counties — for individual and
public assistance.

The teams — made up of OEM, FEMA and U.S.
Small Business Administration officials — reviewed the damage and
emergency costs incurred through damaged roads, bridges, public
utilities, hospitals, schools, fire companies and police departments.

The
teams also assessed the impact on individuals and businesses, including
the extent of the damage, the number of people displaced, and the
threat to health and safety caused by the incident, officials said.